Easy One

[Phil]

3♥ would definitely show better hearts and invite partner to raise with 3 if 3N isn't an option. So that's out.

 

3N is just wrong with Axx and a pard who probably has 5-4 in the pointeds. He might be 4-4, with a lot of extras btw.

 

4♣ is clear. If you didn't want to accurately bid your hand later, I don't think you should have opened this in the 1st place.

[mikeh]

I've been convinced by some of the arguments for 4♣.

 

Not all of them :)

 

If partner were to bid 3N over 3♥, I'd have an easy 4♣ cue, since I like my hand for diamonds and I'd assume he was showing a slam try by his delayed sequence to 3N.

 

But, if he were to bid 3♠, I'd have a problem. I agree with those who suggest that he would/should bid 3♠ with a chunky 5=2=4=2 or such, looking for the best game, and now raising spades is mandatory. So my choice of 3♥, to keep the bidding low, doesn't actually work on most slam hands...I'm better off with 4♣ then 4♥.

 

Of course, recognizing this problem with my 3♥ call doesn't mean that all is smooth sailing after the 4♣ cue, either!

 

What would/should he bid over 4♣ with KQJxx xx AKxx xx? I'd say that 4♠ would be a choice of games, while all slamming hands unable to keycard (assuming keycard were available) must stall via 4♦.

 

I don't, however, buy that 3♥ invites partner to put us in a 4=3 heart fit.

[gnasher]

I don't agree that 3♥-3NT shows slam interest. Why shouldn't he have a 5143 "best game" hand that now thinks the best game is 3NT, having heard me show concentration in hearts?

[WesleyC]

3H. Partner might still be looking for strain at this point. My hand is good, but still minimum so I'll tread water with the cheapest available bid.